On Jekyll island, April 2013

Happy Father’s day!

The rain was so loud, it filled us up with joy and adrenaline.

I told Seth to go out into it…….

…he was soon dancing in the rain.  Wild and free.

Sister joined him and I stood, leaning against the porch railing, smiling at their happiness. 

I couldn’t believe my little vegetable garden, with a huge puddle in the corner.  I hope the cucumbers can survive all the rain-love.

Back inside, it was a warm afternoon for napping and folding 4 loads of laundry, and playing with kittens.

Sarah, back in dry clothes, and I watched a Veggietales show (it was the one about “vanna banana”) 

After Rich came home the rain had stopped enough to go outside for a walk.  The glow of the setting sun was gorgeous and the little ones did some puddle jumping.  I didn’t have my camera along, but when we got back home I noticed a rainbow had appeared in the sky.

Jacob was awake by then, and reading on the porch in his shameful socks.

As if the rainbow wasn’t enough, we saw another most beautiful sight, thick heavy storm clouds moving by, revealing a bright blue sky beneath.

Master, the terror is over.
The elements sweetly rest.
Earth’s sun in the calm lake is mirrored,
And heaven’s within my breast.
Linger, O blessed Redeemer!
Leave me alone no more,
And with joy I shall make the blest harbor
And rest on the blissful shore.

from the hymn “master the tempest is raging” by mary ann baker

(the pond)

The sun was going down still further, and the lighting was thin and watery, but the children were so dear and happy outdoors that I kept snapping away.

The air was filled with the sound of tree frogs, I need to record the sound someday.  It was almost like a chorus of birds.  It gave us the NEED to see one of these allusive and well-hidden frogs.

We searched and listened, heard one close enough that David spotted it, and caught one.

It looked like a little blob of tree, in a frog shape, with very sticky and thin fingers.

********************************

Yesterday was such a gorgeous, clear day that I had no time to blog.  We had friends over in the morning and then after the children came home from school, there was “nothing to eat” and I was harassed into going grocery shopping!  Grace went and sat in the car even though I said I was too tired!  For the sake of family morale, I got up and went to Costco with her and we filled a cart to the utter maximum.  She’s happy, I’m happy, we’re all happy.

But Seth threw up this morning.  He’s currently cuddled in blankets right next to me on the couch, with his bear and a kitten.  Poor baby.  He woke up at 5, so yeah, I’ve been up for over three hours already. 

I’m making beef stew for dinner tonight.  I told Jacob so in the kitchen this morning, and Ethan called from the bathroom, I was surprised he had overheard me, “I love beef stew!”  Really, the way to a man’s heart it through his stomach.  So sweet.

It’s chilly outside, and it’s going to be another couple of days of rain; makes it seem so dark and cozy in the house.  I love home-keeping. 

*blessings and love to anyone who comes along here today*

No, the children are not out of school for the summer yet, (not till next week!) but this is a Sunday-after-church photo of dear Grace, wearing her new long dress from Old Navy and holding a kitten.

And then she took a picture of me, holding the same kitten.  Don’t you just love the new maxi-dress styles?  The stripes were a daring decision.  A older man at church (the teasing type) saw me walking Sarah to her Sunday school class and called after me, “Did they just let you out of jail, Shanda?”  And then, David leaned over upstairs during the message and whispered, “Mom.  You look just like a zebra today.  Did you do that on purpose?” 

Did he HONESTLY think I would make a decision like that?

THEN, Caleb brought home an invitation to a birthday party and said, “Mom, it’s a good thing you bought that new dress!”  It’s a ZEBRA party!  Whoever wears the most stripes gets a prize.  Astounding.  

I love my new dress!  It makes me laugh.

It was a good morning to bake bread.  It was raining outside and we needed bread.  No way was I going to go to the store!  I mixed up a big batch of dough with Seth and Sarah “helping” and kittens attacking my feet.

They love to eat a little bit of raw dough……..

I get feelings of joy and pride when I see a bowl of risen dough. “It’s growing so nicely!”

I formed three loaves, a dozen rolls for sandwiches, and a small pan of caramel cinnamon rolls.

My mother is my inspiration, she bakes all her own bread.  I just do it as a treat now and then.

FRESH FROM THE OVEN:

freshly baked rolls

sky high bread

caramel cinnamon rolls

a view from above

on this rainy morning, the house is warm and filled with the scent of homemade bread

I love working on my journals, but tend to go at spurts.  I’m currently in a productive spurt….I glued in a letter than I got yesterday from cherylyn, and added a few more pictures (cut from magazines) and quotes from the devotional books I’m reading.

Such as:

“The more you realize your self, the less you will seek God.”  Oswald Chambers 

and,

“It is a privilege to be chosen.  He has called you by your name.  You belong to Him in a special way.  You are precious to Him because He loves you and He has poured love into your heart to be able for you to give that love to others.”  Mother Teresa

A story of mischief. 

Yesterday, Sarah woke up from her nap before Seth did.  She was playing quietly and as Seth was still napping, I was not suspicious, because they tend to find trouble only when they are TOGETHER and alone, but Sarah usually plays in solitude like a perfect angel.  She was out of my sight and when I finally went to check on her, the scent of nail polish almost overwhelmed me.

She had painted her leg all the way up and over the knee (front only). 

Why?

“I started to paint my nails …. but then I painted my leg!”  she chirped.

I had to take her to the tub and scrub it off with nail polish remover.

And then I had go get Jacob from school.

But first I went to Rite Aid to buy a couple pretty cards to send to friends.

And then I got Jacob.  But I was late.

And then we went back home to start dinner.  We had homemade Salisbury steak, parsley potatoes, and cucumber salad.

Then it was time to clean the kitchen.

And then, and then, and then……..

it was a good morning to bake bread!

Life is good.

I took all these pictures on Saturday morning.  After two days of drenching rain, the skies cleared.  Rich and I went on a walk with the children and it was more exciting that usual because of the flooding of the stream….so over-full that water was up into the woods.  It was magical with the sun pouring down. 

The children saw so many little creatures on that day, two snakes, a mole, and a baby cardinal that was blown from it’s nest in the storms.  David held it and then put it back with it’s parents.  What a treat to see and wonder over God’s beautiful world.

“We have our all from the hand of God….if we have this thought as a golden thread running through all the comforts of every day; these are God’s gifts, every bit we eat, and every drop we drink is His mercy, every breath we draw, and every step we take is His mercy, this will keep us continually waiting upon Him….and will put a double sweetness into all our enjoyments.”  Matthew Henry, The Secret of Communion with God

It’s so essential for us to be mindful of the humble and deep

rather than the flashy and the superficial.  ~Fred Rogers

So often I get caught up in the daily rush rush that seems to be my life right now.  There have been three afternoons this week of not knowing exactly when my older children were ready to be picked up after school–none of them have phones–it’s not easy to reach them or find them, the schools are always locked and after hours it is difficult to find someone inside to open the door for me.  Meanwhile, there are little ones that need me, too.  The hours fly by and I realize I haven’t spent much time with Caleb, or David, or Grace, or…..

We live in a time of so much distraction.  With the Internet, it is now possible to be connected with people around the world but not at school (ha ha) at all times.  With phones, there is always a feeling of being available, or wanting to immediately text someone the latest update in our lives (something I enjoy doing!).  At times, I can feel my mind becoming unsettled, unfocused on what is right in front of me.  Even within the home, there is so much to be done.  I love to have a clean home and spend so much time picking up, doing laundry, adding little touches here and there.

But yesterday our neighbors stopped by to see the new kitchen and the new kitchen was a mess.  The dog went wild, and Seth kept jumping around begging for attention.  The company left and I was almost in tears.  I had become the “frazzled mom of seven with the wild look in her eyes” that I so didn’t want to be! 

I must be intentional about slowing down and savoring this wonderful life of mine. 

My heart is filled with gratitude to think of all the hard work that has been put into house, home, and family.

I’ve been blessed to be a stay at home mom for 16 years and my husband has never given me any indication that he would want it any other way.

My goal is to give him the best life possible…..at times it is not easy, there is almost always friction in a marriage, ups and downs, but with maturity comes contentment and deeper desire to show just how much I appreciate the life he has provided for me and the children.

That deep down, spiritual place within me sees and knows what is truly essential for my family.  Basic requirements that every family needs; love, sacrifice, time, touch, fun, good food.

It costs something to spend an extra 15 minutes on making the meals just a little more special; healthy, filling, and beautiful.  But, for my heart and soul,  it’s worth it all. 

It costs something to say yes to pushing the little ones on the swing over and over and over, to slow down and realize the wind in their face and the smiles are so very worth it.

To sincerely enjoy a sunny day outside.

To make the car-times fun, instead of sighing and complaining.

It’s a choice to embrace challenges, instead of giving up.

It’s a choice to keep their little faces clean and hair combed.  To make them change a shirt to one without stains, for school.  Because I care.

It’s important,to spend time in my husband’s arms at the end of the day, showing the deep love that we feel for one another.  Talking, teasing, laughing together.

Making pretty flower gardens MEANS SOMETHING. 

The other day we were in Lowe’s getting vegetable plants for the garden.  I pushed the cart past an outdoor carpet display and Seth noticed them and told me he wanted a rug.  I said no, but then on the way home I stopped at a favorite thrift store and found two little rugs.  A Princess one for Sarah, and a Cars one for Seth.  Total: less than five dollars.  I don’t believe this was a coincidence, but a way to show Seth that God cares even in the smallest of details.

Also on that thrifting day, to my joy, I found some nice kitchen things; a Tupperware cake carrier, a big lasagna pan, a jumbo muffin tin, and six wooden spoons.  I scrubbed everything in hot soapy water and added a splash of bleach to soak.  After a good rinsing, I took everything outside to air in the sunshine.

Baby kitties add so much joy to family life.  The children love holding them and petting their soft fur.  We laugh to watch them run and play together.

Neglecting the housework to spend an afternoon outside is a very wise decision at times!

Reading lovely stories out loud to the family is an investment in the memory-banks for all time.

Some favorites:

The 3 Little Dassies, by Jan Brett.  This is an African retelling of the 3 Little Pigs and my kids love it.

Chloe, by Peter McCarty.  Chloe has 10 older siblings and 10 younger.  It’s a cute book about family fun time and what happens when Dad brings home a television.

Me…Jane, by Patrick McDonnell is a meaningful book about Jane Goodall.

You can never go wrong with Mother Goose and there are many out there to choose from.  Tasha Tudor’s illustrations are precious and lovely.

It’s important to have a safe place to play.  Big brother Ethan got rid of the hornet’s nest that was beginning to appear in the playset.

While they played, I got a little wet…….the water was cold and the rocks were slippery.  It was fun!

There is so much to explore, to see and appreciate in this beautiful word of ours.

Ethan with his dog.

I find that usually life contains all the things needed for a meaningful life, but what is lacking at times are the eyes to see and notice.  Slowing down now and then gets the gratitude a flowin’, life is good.

“Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance.”  E. Tolle

“Piglet noticed that even though he had a Very Small Heart, it could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude.”  A.A. Milne

“When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed.”   M. Angelou

“To be grateful is to recognize the Love of God in everything He has given us – and He has given us everything. Every breath we draw is a gift of His love, every moment of existence is a grace, for it brings with it immense graces from Him.
Gratitude therefore takes nothing for granted, is never unresponsive, is constantly awakening to new wonder and to praise of the goodness of God. For the grateful person knows that God is good, not by hearsay but by experience. And that is what makes all the difference.”    Thomas Merton

Oh my friends, it is a beautiful day here, only 64 degrees with a glowing sky, so blue, with just a cloud or two.  Cool breeze, dry air, very glorious indeed.  I worked in the garden a bit.  With the little ones playing around me, I planted a tomato plant, 4 cucumber hills, a row of marigolds, and a gathering of dusty pink zinnias.  Parker the dog was about, and so were the kittens and Snickers, the big cat.  It was a very pleasant time to work outside.  After writing here, I will plant some herbs and sunflowers…….

I wrote about Rich’s grandma’s funeral yesterday but I decided to put it in a private posting.  It was a beautiful service, we will all miss her very much, but are grateful to have shared a part of her life.  I knew her for over 20 years and I always came away from our visits wanting to be a better person.  Her greatest attribute was her loving spirit, she had a Jesus-filled heart, and I’m thankful that most of my children will be able to remember that.  She lived long enough to get to make an important impact on her great-grandchildren.

Rich, understandably, was emotionally drained after a long week of grieving, not sleeping, preparing a message for the funeral, and travelling with his crazy wife and busy children.  So, we were very pleased to be able to stay in the city for an extra day after the funeral service, to rest, enjoy the hotel pool, and the sights.  But, best of all, we had the happy opportunity to take the children to my Mom’s office, so she could give them a tour of where she spends her days as a secretary to the Judge.

The courthouse was within walking distance from our hotel and it was such fun to get there on our own two feet.  (18 feet, to be precise) 

We ate breakfast at the hotel before we left for our walk.  This is me, with my big loving boy CALEB.

While we waited for the rest of the family to catch up, I sat on a bench outside the hotel with David, Sarah Joy, and Caleb. 

Caleb didn’t like the noise of the city but we all enjoyed looking in the shop windows and seeing so many interesting things…so much activity, so many people!

We walked by the river.  This is a picture of the most wonderful little bookstore (“River Road Books”).  I walked there twice, once with the girls and the second time with the boys.  I bought myself the book Where’d you Go Bernadette, which I read in one day, it was a very light and quirky fiction novel.  I also got Below Stairs and I LOVED THAT BOOK SO MUCH.  Highly recommended.  I am currently reading her second book at a rapid pace. 

Seth and I gathered wild flowers to give to Grandma.  Actually, the bouquet began by Seth picking a red petunia from the hotel garden.  Rather than toss it away, we filled up his hand with flowers that grew by the edge of the river.  This picture melts my heart.  *those eyes*  *my smallest boy*

Mom’s office is big and airy with wonderful natural lighting.  She has it decorated with little personal touches like houseplants and blue glass in the windows, special vintage maps that she had framed, and photographs.  We works at a big desk with two computer monitors.  We talked with the Judge, and with Fran, and then Mom was able to take some time to show the children the building.  Courthouses are so interesting and it was a thrill for the kids to see and explore.  After we were done, we had a group photo taken outside.  I was all set to take it when a kind lady approached and offered to take the picture so I could be in it, too. 

Rich and I walked the children back to the hotel, and at lunchtime, I met Mom at a café and we ate lunch, just the two of us.  It was such a treat.  Afterwards, I walked her back to the office and I took a little walk around the city until I almost got knocked over by a crazy runner who turned out to be my husband, out for a run while Jacob was babysitting the others……he didn’t even notice me until I yelled RICH RICH very loudly and then he turned around and graciously gave up the last 2 tenths of his run so we could walk back together. 

Later that evening, we went to Mom and Dad’s for a pizza dinner.  Uncle Dave played catch with the little boys and Seth is still trying to teach his Dad how to catch, according to the advice Uncle Dave gave him. 

Mom took us around to see the gardens and then down into the woods to see where they are having a pond built, and to see the creek.

The buttercups were in bloom.

Jacob found a cool mushroom and picked it off a tree for us to see.

Years ago, whenever a cow died on the farm, my Grandpa would drag it off into the woods to decay.  Well, we happened upon an old set of bones on our walk, and I was less than thrilled when the boys not only touched them, but took some of them home in a bag.  These particular cow bones (I did not take a picture) were probably 20 years old and completely gray, moldy, and dirty.  Jacob and Ethan thought they were so fascinating that they insisted on bringing them back.  It just so happens now, that at random moments, I see the dog sauntering by with one of them in his mouth.  (there are about 3 or 4)  Who would have guessed the dog would enjoy a 20 year old cow bone that’s been outside in the woods for all that time? 

We left to go back home on Saturday morning but first we ate breakfast at Crackerbarrel.  I was at the other end of the table and just had to take a picture of the boys reading their new books (Jacob: a book about Rocks, Ethan:  I am the Messenger)

Across from me, I saw this sight……

Yum, that breakfast was good!

So, all in all, it was a full and satisfying weekend.  We saw almost every single family member, an amazing experience/accomplishment in itself.  We got back in time to relax, I stayed home from church with the youngest ones on Sunday. Now that it’s Tuesday I have almost all the laundry caught up and house put back together….in fact, it’s the perfect weather to hang clothes on the line.  I will go do that now, and I just remembered I need to refill the hummingbird feeders.  I also have some seeds to plant……..what a wonderful and interesting time of year it is. 

Blessings and love to you and yours!

Casting all of your care upon Him, for He careth for you.  1 Peter 5

simply lovely morning mercies for june 3rd

a pretty place to sit and read

pink peonies in bloom

good old fashioned potted geraniums

fragrant lilacs, a sweet rainy morning

inside; a precious picture of grandma with rich (he’s the little boy on the left in navy blue)

homemade brownies; chocolate and blond

the return of the kittens

It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High, proclaiming your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night, to the music of the ten-stringed lyre and the melody of the harp.

(Sarah, as a newborn…….)

On May 30th, Sarah turned three years old.  We were staying a hotel and as soon as she woke up we gave her the gifts. 

She turned three the day of her Great Grandma Sarah’s funeral, the grandma she was named for. She wore her big yellow dress and looked as pretty as a picture.  (also:new flip flops!)  She blew out a candle on a piece of chocolate cake at the family luncheon.  Her face flushed sweetly pink as she listened to the many voices singing “Happy Birthday”.

When we arrived back at the hotel that afternoon, Sarah got to go swimming.

The next day, she visited with her Grandma Cindy, and they both wore pink shirts.  Grandma and Grandpa gave her a pop-up card and they laughed when Sarah recognized the 20 dollar bill enclosed within.

Sarah is still “our baby” and I only realize how big she’s getting when I can’t carry her in my arms as long as I used to (too heavy) or when I notice how long her legs are getting and how big her vocabulary grows each day.  She is pure sweetness through and through, loves her blankie, her purse, still sucks her finger, has sparkling blue eyes,  sneaks into my nail polish and once painted her entire finger and a streak on her forehead, adores shoes, sings along to her favorite songs, and can’t resist being motherly to dolls, cats, and toys.  We love her so.

Happy third birthday, beautiful girl.